Fast remote execution between mobile devices

ABSTRACT

A method for remotely executing a command on a mobile device is provided. Here, a command to execute is received at a first mobile device, wherein the command includes a communications command requiring the use of a first communications medium. Then it is determined if the first mobile device can access the first communications medium. When the first mobile device cannot access the first communications medium, the command is forwarded via a second communications medium to a second mobile device for execution. When the first mobile device can access the first communications medium, the command is executed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mobile devices. Moreparticularly, the present invention is related to allowing mobiledevices to execute commands remotely, automatically, and immediatelythrough networking messages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of mobile communication devices, such as mobile phones, hasbecome very prevalent in our society. Most individuals own a mobilephone and carry it with them most of the time. This includes evenchildren, as more and more parents are electing to equip their childrenwith the devices in order to better protect their children and/ormonitor their locations.

Children can be taught how to dial particular phone numbers in emergencysituations, such as dialing “911” or dialing a parents number (orselecting such numbers from a speed dial list). Likewise, textingmessages, such as through Short Message Service (SMS) can also be usedto alert authorities or parents of emergencies.

These solutions, however, suffer from three main drawbacks. First ofall, there is a level of complexity that is involved in dialing a phonenumber or texting a particular entity. While many children are quiteadept at using mobile devices, perhaps even better than their parents,some children are not, including younger children who may not have themotor skills or sophistication to be able to execute complicatedcommands on the devices. Furthermore, even children who are adept atusing mobile phones may easily panic in emergency situations and beunable to use the device to call for help, either because theymomentarily forget how or who to send the proper communication, orbecause they are so frightened that their hands are shaking so badlythat they cannot perform the fine motor skills necessary to dial ortext. Indeed, this problem is not just unique to children, as adults canalso suffer the same limitations.

Second of all, the device may not always be in a location where directcommunication between the device and the intended recipient (e.g.,parent, authorities, etc.) is possible. For example, if the emergencymessage is to be sent via the Internet, the mobile device may not be ina location where EDGE, 3G, 4G, or some other Internet connectivitycompatible with the mobile phone is available. Furthermore, in times ofmass emergency, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, etc., it is possiblethat both voice calling and Internet connectivity may be unavailable,but SMS communication remains viable.

Third of all, communication to certain people, such as a parent, may notalways be possible, even when connectivity between devices is possible.For example, the parent may have their phone turned off, or may beotherwise engaged and be unable to pick up the phone. In such times, thechild may lose valuable time attempting to contacting the particularparent before giving up and trying to contact someone else (such asanother parent, relative, family friend, etc.).

What is needed is a solution that addresses all of these issues.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments are provided that allow mobile devices to remotely executecommands, such as the generation and sending of emergency messages overthe Internet.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a method for remotelyexecuting a command on a mobile device is provided. Here, a command toexecute is received at a first mobile device, wherein the commandincludes a communications command requiring the use of a firstcommunications medium. Then it is determined if the first mobile devicecan access the first communications medium. When the first mobile devicecannot access the first communications medium, the command is forwardedvia a second communications medium to a second mobile device forexecution. When the first mobile device can access the firstcommunications medium, the command is executed.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, a method for causingthe remote execution of a command from a first mobile device isprovided. A shaking motion of the first mobile device is detected,wherein the shaking motion has a frequency, an intensity, and a lengthof time. It is determined that the shaking motion represents a requestto send an emergency message if the frequency exceeds a first predefinedthreshold, the intensity exceeds a second predefined threshold, and thelength of time exceeds a third predefined threshold. It is thendetermined if the first mobile device has Internet connectivity. Whenthe first mobile device does not have Internet connectivity, a commandis sent to a second mobile device to attempt to send an emergencymessage, wherein the command is sent to the second mobile device using anon-Internet based communications medium.

In a third embodiment of the present invention, a method for causing theremote execution of a command from a first device is provided. A shakingmotion of the first device is detected, wherein the shaking motion has afrequency, an intensity, and a length of time. Then it is determinedthat the shaking motion represents a request to send an emergencymessage if the frequency exceeds a first predefined threshold, theintensity exceeds a second predefined threshold, and the length of timeexceeds a third predefined threshold. The location of the first deviceis then determined. Then it is determined if the first device hasInternet connectivity. When the first device does not have Internetconnectivity, a command is sent to a second device to attempt to send anemergency message, wherein the command is sent to the second deviceusing a non-Internet based communications medium, wherein the emergencymessage includes the determined location of the first device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention, together with further advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a “shaking” action thatwill trigger the automatic communication of an emergency message inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application (or “app”)installed on the mobile device that allows the user to quickly generatean emergency message in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention

FIG. 3 is a high-level view of a remote execution process in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an example of a chain of devices in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an example remote data gathering process in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for remotely executing acommand on a mobile device in accordance with an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for causing the remoteexecution of a command from a first mobile device in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for causing the remoteexecution of a command from a first mobile device in accordance with yetanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile device suitable for implementing embodimentsof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to specific embodiments of theinvention including the best modes contemplated by the inventors forcarrying out the invention. Examples of these specific embodiments areillustrated in the accompanying drawings. While the invention isdescribed in conjunction with these specific embodiments, it will beunderstood that it is not intended to limit the invention to thedescribed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to coveralternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.In the following description, specific details are set forth in order toprovide a thorough understanding of the present invention. The presentinvention may be practiced without some or all of these specificdetails. In addition, well known features may not have been described indetail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the invention.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, a user is able toautomatically communicate with a group of predefined contacts and send apredefined emergency message by shaking a mobile device vigorously. Anaccelerometer or other sensor(s) in the mobile device can measure thefrequency and intensity of the shaking, and if those measurements exceeda given threshold, determine that an emergency message must be sent.This emergency message may be sent to multiple contacts simultaneously,thus saving precious time in an emergency in case one or more of thecontacts is unavailable or unreachable.

Furthermore, remote execution is performed in cases where the user'simmediate device is unable to complete the execution of the command tosend the emergency message. In such cases, the command is forwarded toanother device who attempts to execute the command. The command can berepeatedly forward to other devices until finding a device which cancomplete execution of the command.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, remote execution isused to gather data and return the data to the original device.

Relay Urgent Message Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a “shaking” action thatwill trigger the automatic communication of an emergency message inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. An accelerometerlocated in device 100 can be used to detect the shaking motion. Assumingthe intensity of the shaking is great enough (i.e., greater than apredefined intensity threshold), and the frequency of the shaking ishigh enough (i.e., greater than a predefined frequency threshold), thedevice may monitor the accelerometer to determine if the shakingcontinues long enough to warrant the conclusion that the user intends tosend an emergency message, such as if the shaking lasts longer than apredefined amount of time, for example 3 seconds). It should be notedthat in some embodiments the device may not always be in a state inwhich shaking can be detected. For example, the device may be off, or ina sleep mode. In such cases, it may be necessary for the user to firstturn on the device, or bring it out of sleep mode, prior to beginningthe shaking motion.

Of course, not all embodiments require that the “shaking” action beperformed in order for an emergency message to be generated. In someembodiments, the user of the device may use more traditional means togenerate an emergency message. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating anexample of an application (or “app”) installed on the mobile device thatallows the user to quickly generate an emergency message in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the user, such as akid, can easily press a large button 200 in the middle of the display togenerate an emergency message.

In addition to the mechanisms described above, there may be additionalways a user can indicate that an emergency is taking place. For example,the user could speak loudly with a predefined keyword, such as “SOS helphelp!”. Alternatively, the user can dial a predefined phone number, suchas “9999”. Alternatively, the user can move the phone in another type ofgesture, such as moving the phone clockwise or counter-clockwiserapidly.

Regardless of how the user signals that an emergency message is to begenerated, the execution of this emergency message may be performedremotely. FIG. 3 is a high-level view of a remote execution process inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Here, user 300,such as a child, wishes to use a mobile device, such as phone A 302, totransmit an emergency message not only using SMS but also using theInternet. This would allow, for example, relatives who do not havemobile phones (or do not have them on) to also receive the emergencymessage through the Internet. In this example, however, phone A 302 maynot be in a service area where mobile Internet is available (or,alternatively, phone A 302 may not even have a service plan where mobileInternet is active). Here, the user 300 requests remote execution of acommand on phone A 302 (the command being to send an emergency messageto several contacts). Rather than execute this command locally, some orall of the command may be sent to a remote device 304, for execution ofthe command. This device (phone B 304), has both SMS and Internetconnectivity. If it lacked Internet connectivity for example, it maycontinue to forward the command on to phone C 306 for execution. As itstands in this example, however, phone B 304 has Internet connectivity.As such, it sends an event to a web server 308 via the Internet. Webserver 308 may then broadcast the emergency message via the Internet tovarious other users 310, 312, and 314.

In one embodiment, the command sent between devices to be executedremotely is sent via SMS, since as described earlier SMS communicationis one of the more reliable communications mediums during emergencies.The command may then be executed on the recipient device, but if itcannot be so executed, it may be forwarded on to another device, and soon, until finding a device that can execute the command.

The chain of devices to which the command is forwarded may beestablished by a user and stored on device 302. FIG. 4 is an example ofa chain of devices in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. Any number of devices may be included in this chain. Thelarger the number of users, the more likely it is that some device(owned by one of the users) in the chain will eventually be able toexecute the command. It should be noted that while in this example thereis a precise ordering defined for the chain (Aunt Sally 400 is shown ascoming after Uncle Stan 402 who is after Family friend Joe 404), thereis no requirement that the forwarding ordering actually follows apredefined path. In one embodiment, a random device from the chain issimply picked at the time the user signals an emergency message must besent. There may be circumstances where such a randomized selection ofdevice is beneficial, since the user's initial selection of ordering maybe imperfect, e.g., Dad 406 may often be in areas where no cellularreception is possible.

It should also be noted that the devices in the chain may or may notreflect the complete list of devices to which the eventual emergencymessage may be sent. There may be, for example, two or more differentlists maintained by a user's mobile telephone. The first list may be thechain of devices to which commands should be forwarded for remoteexecution. The second list may be a list of contacts to which anemergency message should ultimately be sent from whatever device is ableto do so. In some embodiments these lists may be identical. In othersthey will be different.

In one embodiment, the emergency list is stored in a cloud, and a mobileapplication can synchronize with the cloud automatically to update anddistribute the list. Additionally, in one embodiment, the mobileapplication, upon detecting an emergency, attempts to send the commandto the first device in the list, and if that fails, it tries the seconddevice in the list, and so on. If there is a device in the list thatrepeatedly fails to execute or receive the command, this device may belowered in priority down the list so that another device receives thecommand first.

Indeed, it should be noted that in some embodiments a dedicated SMSdevice may be established in each chain of device, with the dedicatedSMS device being always active and ready to communicate via both SMS andthe Internet. In one example, a business, such as a cell phone carrieror a software company that distributes the software applications used bythe present invention, may maintain one or more such devices in thenetwork. In another example, the user may purchase a stand-alonededicated device that is maintained in the home for such purposes.

Obtaining User Information Embodiment

In another embodiment of the present invention, rather than, or inaddition to, an emergency message being sent out, a user is trying togather information about another user quickly. For example, a parent maylose track of a child while shopping and then want to know the child'slocation quickly. FIG. 5 is an example remote data gathering process inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Here, user 500may request remote execution of a command, such as a location gatheringcommand, to device 502. This device may then send this command throughSMS to device 504, which the device most closely associated with theuser on which the information should be gathered. Device 504 thenexecutes the command (e.g., gathers its location), and the executionresult is sent back to device 502 via SMS. The result may then bepresented to user 500 via a user interface.

It should also be noted that embodiments are foreseen that combine theemergency message aspect and the remote location finder aspect. Forexample, when an emergency message is generated by a device, it may alsoact to gather the device's location and that location may be forwardedalong with the emergency message to the remote device for execution,which may include passing the location along to the ultimate recipientsof the emergency message.

Other Embodiments

In another embodiment of the present invention, the ultimate device thatis able to remotely execute the command (in the chain of devices) actsto publish the emergency message in several ways using the Internet.This may include sending emails to users, creating a Twitter™ tweet,publishing a Facebook™ or MySpace™ update (i.e., putting a message on asocial networking website), or sending a Google+™ message.

In some embodiments, rather than blindly passing on the command to anext device, the sending device actively checks up to ensure that thesubsequent device is handling the command. This may include, forexample, waiting for confirmation from the subsequent device that thecommand has been received and can be handled. Reasons why the subsequentdevice may not be able to handle the command include it being poweredoff, lacking any sort of communicability (such as cellular receptiondropping out right after it receives the command from the previousdevice).

The command receiver may respond to the command sender, no matterwhether they are able to execute the command or not. If the commandsender does not get a response from the receiver after a predefinedtime, the command sender knows the command was not receivedsuccessfully. In such an instance, the sender will find another devicein the chain to send the command to.

The software and/or hardware that performs the steps of the presentinvention may be located in many different locations. Some of the stepsmay be performed on a user's mobile device. Others of the steps may beperformed on an intended recipient's mobile device. Others of the stepsmay be performed on an intermediate mobile device. Still further stepsmay be performed on a web server. Each of the locations will bedescribed in more detail below.

System Process

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for remotely executing acommand on a mobile device in accordance with the first embodiment ofthe present invention. This method may be executed on a different mobiledevice than the one operated by the user who is having an emergency. At600, a command to execute is received on a first mobile device. Thecommand may include a communications command requiring the use of afirst communications medium, such as SMS. This command may be, forexample, a command to generate an emergency message and send theemergency message to one or more contacts via the Internet. At 602, itis determined if the first mobile device can access the firstcommunications medium (for example, does have Internet connectivity). Ifit is determined that it cannot access the first communications medium,at 604 the command is forwarded via a second communications medium(e.g., SMS) to a second mobile device for execution. If it is determinedthat it can access the first communications medium, at 606 the commandmay be executed.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for causing the remoteexecution of a command from a first mobile device in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention. This method may be executedon the mobile device that is operated by the user who is having anemergency. At 700, a shaking motion of the first mobile device isdetected. This detection may be performed using an accelerometerembedded in the first mobile device. At 702, it is determined if theshaking motion frequency exceeds a first predetermined threshold. In oneembodiment, this frequency threshold is equal to or greater to three“shakes” (each “shake” being a combination of an up and a down motion)within the measured period. If this threshold is exceeded, then at 704it is determined if the shaking motion intensity exceeds a secondpredetermined threshold. In one embodiment, this intensity threshold is300 meters per second squared. If this threshold is exceeded, then at706, it is determined if the length of time that the shaking motioncontinues exceeds a third predetermined threshold. In one embodiment,this duration is 3 seconds. If this threshold is exceeded, then at 708the system concludes that the shaking motion represents a request tosend an emergency message.

It should be noted that in one embodiment a “cancel” action may beprovided, where a user who inadvertently triggers an emergency messagecan cancel the message. For example, the user may turn off the powerbutton.

At 710, it is determined if the first mobile device has Internetconnectivity. If not, then at 712 a command is sent to a second mobiledevice to attempt to send an emergency message. This command is sentusing a non-Internet based communications medium, such as SMS. In oneembodiment, the SMS message contains a keyword, so that the commandreceiver knows where the command is located in the SMS message. Forexample, a call for help may be encoded in SMS as#k@pHelp!_http://maps.google.com/maps?q=25.02604,121.548378. If thefirst mobile device has Internet connectivity, then at 714 the firstmobile device can simply send the emergency message via the Internetitself.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for causing the remoteexecution of a command from a first mobile device in accordance with yetanother embodiment of the present invention and explains FIG. 3 in moredetail. This method may be executed on the mobile device that isoperated by the user who is having an emergency. At 800, a shakingmotion of the first mobile device is detected. This detection may beperformed using an accelerometer embedded in the first mobile device. At802, it is determined if the shaking motion frequency exceeds a firstpredetermined threshold. If so, then at 804 it is determined if theshaking motion intensity exceeds a second predetermined threshold. Ifso, then at 806, it is determined if the length of time that the shakingmotion continues exceeds a third predetermined threshold. If so, then at808 the system concludes that the shaking motion represents a request tosend an emergency message. At 810, the location of the first device isdetermined. At 812, it is determined if the first mobile device hasInternet connectivity. If no, then at 814 a command is sent to a secondmobile device to attempt to send an emergency message, wherein theemergency message includes the determined location of the first device.The user's longitude and latitude can be obtained via a GPS device inthe user's phone. A URL can then be created which leverages 3^(rd) partytechnology or web sites to provide a map to the recipient. This URL canthen be embedded into the command within the SMS message. This commandis sent using a non-Internet based communications medium, such as SMS.

Mobile Device Embodiment

FIG. 9 illustrates a mobile device 900 suitable for implementingembodiments of the present invention. FIG. 9 shows one possible physicalform of the mobile device. Of course, the computer system may have manyphysical forms including an integrated circuit, a printed circuit board,a small handheld device (such as a mobile telephone or PDA), largehandheld device (such as a tablet computer), or laptop computer. In thedepicted embodiment, a mobile phone 900 is depicted.

Mobile phone 900 may include a display 902, which may also act as a userinput mechanism. In this instance, the display 902 is a touchscreendisplay. In other non-depicted embodiments the user input mechanism maybe physical buttons or other controllers located on the mobile device900, either in addition to or in lieu of the touchscreen display.

Mobile phone 900 may also include an accelerometer 904. Thisaccelerometer 604 may be used for the “shaking” detection aspects of thepresent invention, as described earlier, or other motions that mightoccur when a user is having an emergency and wants to send a message.

Mobile phone 900 may also include a GPS module 906, which may detect thelocation of the mobile phone 900 using global positioning satellites.

Mobile phone 900 may also include a processor 908 which can be used toexecute the various processes of the present invention, among otherprocesses.

Mobile phone 900 may also include various types of memory 910, includingrandom access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). As is well knownin the art, ROM acts to transfer data and instructions uni-directionallyto the processor and RAM is used typically to transfer data andinstructions in a bi-directional manner. Both of these types of memoriesmay include any suitable of the computer-readable media described below.A fixed disk 912 may also be coupled bi-directionally to processor 908;it provides additional data storage capacity and may also include any ofthe computer-readable media described below. Fixed disk 912 may be usedto store programs, data and the like and is typically a secondarystorage medium (such as a hard disk) that is slower than primarystorage. It will be appreciated that the information retained withinfixed disk 912, may, in appropriate cases, be incorporated in standardfashion as virtual memory in memory 910.

Mobile device 900 may also include various types of communicationsinterfaces. This may include cellular voice interface 914, as well asmobile Internet interface 916. Cellular voice interface 914 may besimultaneously capable of transmitting voice and SMS messages, with SMScommunication still being possible even when voice transmission is notdue to public emergencies such as power outages from natural disastersand clogged phone lines due to too many subscribers attempting to callat the same time.

Program Storage Device Embodiment

In addition, embodiments of the present invention further relate tocomputer storage products with a computer-readable medium that havecomputer code thereon for performing various computer-implementedoperations. The media and computer code may be those specially designedand constructed for the purposes of the present invention, or they maybe of the kind well known and available to those having skill in thecomputer software arts. Examples of computer-readable media include, butare not limited to: magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, andmagnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and holographic devices;magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devices thatare specially configured to store and execute program code, such asapplication-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logicdevices (PLDs) and ROM and RAM devices. Examples of computer codeinclude machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and filescontaining higher-level code that are executed by a computer using aninterpreter.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail forpurposes of clarity of understanding, it will be apparent that certainchanges and modifications may be practiced within the scope of theappended claims. Therefore, the described embodiments should be taken asillustrative and not restrictive, and the invention should not belimited to the details given herein but should be defined by thefollowing claims and their full scope of equivalents.

We claim:
 1. A method for remotely executing a command, the methodcomprising: providing, to a plurality of mobile devices that includes afirst mobile device, an emergency list, the emergency list including achain of contacts defined by a first user; receiving, at the firstmobile device, a command to execute, wherein the command includes acommunications command to generate an emergency message and send theemergency message to one or more contacts in the chain of contacts,wherein execution of the command requires access to the Internet;determining, at the first mobile device, if the first mobile device canaccess the Internet; when the first mobile device cannot access theInternet, the first mobile device accessing the emergency list,selecting a remote second mobile device from the emergency list, andforwarding the command via a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol to theremote second mobile device for execution via the Internet, wherein theremote second mobile device forwards the command to another remotedevice in the chain of contacts when the remote second mobile devicedoes not have access to the Internet; and when the first mobile devicecan access the Internet, executing the command.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the first mobile device checks whether the remote secondmobile device is available to handle the command.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein execution of the emergency message involves posting anemergency message on a social networking website.
 4. The method of claim2, wherein the command to execute is received from a third mobile deviceand the command to execute was generated automatically by a shakingmotion of the third mobile device.
 5. A method for causing the remoteexecution of a command, the method comprising: providing to a pluralityof mobile devices that includes a first mobile device, an emergency listincluding a chain of contacts defined by a first user to performforwarding and execution of an emergency command; detecting, at thefirst mobile device, a shaking motion of the first mobile device,wherein the shaking motion has a frequency, an intensity, and a lengthof time; determining, at the first mobile device, that the shakingmotion represents a request to send an emergency message if thefrequency exceeds a first predefined threshold, the intensity exceeds asecond predefined threshold, and the length of time exceeds a thirdpredefined threshold; determining, at the first mobile device, if thefirst mobile device has Internet connectivity; when the first mobiledevice does not have Internet connectivity, the first mobile deviceaccessing the emergency list, selecting a remote second mobile devicefrom the emergency list, and sending a command via the Short MessageService (SMS) protocol to the remote second mobile device to attempt tosend an emergency message, wherein the remote second mobile device isdetermined by locating the chain of contacts stored on the first mobiledevice and selecting the remote second mobile device from the chain ofcontacts, and wherein the remote second mobile device forwards thecommand to another remote device in the chain of contacts when theremote second mobile device does not have access to the Internet.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein the shaking motion is detected using anaccelerometer embedded in the first mobile device.
 7. The method ofclaim 5, wherein the remote second mobile device is determined by one ofselecting a device that is next in the chain of emergency contacts andrandomly selecting a device from the chain of contacts.
 8. A method forcausing the remote execution of a command from a first mobile device,the method comprising: providing an emergency list including a chain ofcontacts defined by a first user to perform forwarding and execution ofan emergency command; detecting, at the first mobile device, a shakingmotion of the first mobile device, wherein the shaking motion has afrequency, an intensity, and a length of time; determining, at the firstmobile device, that the shaking motion represents a request to send anemergency message if the frequency exceeds a first predefined threshold,the intensity exceeds a second predefined threshold, and the length oftime exceeds a third predefined threshold; determining a location of thefirst mobile device; determining if the first device has Internetconnectivity; when the first device does not have Internet connectivity,the first mobile device selecting a remote second mobile device from theemergency list and sending a command via the Short Message Service (SMS)protocol to the remote second mobile device in the chain of contacts tosend an emergency message via the Internet using the remote secondmobile device, wherein the emergency message includes the determinedlocation of the first device, and wherein the remote second mobiledevice forwards the command to another remote device in the chain ofcontacts when the remote second mobile device does not have access tothe Internet.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location isdetermined using a global positioning service (GPS) module embedded inthe first device.
 10. The method of claim 8 wherein the sending of theemergency message involves the remote second mobile device posting anemergency message on a social networking website.
 11. The method ofclaim 8, where the first mobile device checks whether the remote secondmobile device is available to execute or forward the command.
 12. Themethod of claim 8, wherein the chain of contacts includes a listing ofcontacts for forwarding an emergency message and a listing of contactsfor executing an emergency message.
 13. The method of claim 5, whereinthe chain of contacts includes a listing of contacts for forwarding anemergency message and a listing of contacts for executing an emergencymessage.